American Bar Association Resolution

[bslsux]

American Bar Association Adopts Policy Based on Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section

Resolution Urging Adoption of Breed-Neutral Dog Laws-and the Repeal of Breed Discriminatory (Pit Bull) Ordinances.

Attached

12_annual_tips_animal_law_resolution_pr.authcheckdam.pdf

Edited August 26, 2012 by bslsux

[Sheridan]

I will not open a document on a website without some sort of explanation as to what it is.

[bslsux]

If you hadn't already worked it out it is also attached!

[felix]

The point is, if you attach link it is polite to explain what it is all about so people can decide if they want to open it or not. :)

[sandgrubber]

Bslsux included enough text for my purposes. Besides which, .pdf's are among the safest of file types.

It is important that the ABA has taken this position. Mostly you find activists of one sort or another talking about BSL. Lawyers aren't my favorite group of people, but having the leading lawyer group in the US come out saying BSL is bad legislation may have a greater impact than any group of dog-lovers declaring the injustice of bans. Below are the first couple paragraphs of the text:

CHICAGO, August 9, 2012 - On Monday, August 6, 2012, the American Bar Association’s 560- member policymaking House of Delegates met during the ABA’s Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL to discuss policies relating to a broad range of issues which are advocated for by state and local bar associations, specialty legal groups within the ABA or affiliated with the association, and individual members.

As a result of the meeting, the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section’s (TIPS) Resolution 100, which urges all state, territorial, and local legislative bodies and governmental agencies to adopt comprehensive breed-neutral dangerous dog/reckless owner laws that ensure due process protections for owners, encourage responsible pet ownership and focus on the behavior of both dog owners and dogs, and to repeal any breed discriminatory or breed specific provisions, was adopted.

According to Ledy VanKavage, Immediate Past Chair of the TIPS Animal Law Committee, “People love their pets, no matter what their appearance. This is America. Responsible pet owners should be allowed to own whatever breed they want. They should not have to live in fear of their pets being seized and killed simply because of their appearance.”

The measure is timely as the Maryland House of Delegates is taking up a bill on Friday to repeal the finding that all “pit bulls” and “pit bull crosses” are inherently dangerous. The Governor of Massachusetts signed legislation last week making breed discriminatory legislation illegal in that state- becoming the 13th state in the nation to reject canine profiling. Miami-Dade citizens will go to the polls on

TIPS Fall Meeting ▪ October 11-14, 2012 ▪ La Quinta, CA ABA Midyear Meeting ▪ February 7-10, 2013 ▪ Dallas, TX TIPS Spring Meeting ▪ April 25-28, 2013 ▪ Washington, D.C. ABA Annual Meeting ▪ August 8-12, 2013 ▪ San Francisco, CA

August 14th to decide whether to continue their breed ban.

“Dogs, like people, cannot be fairly judged solely by appearance or heritage. The leadership of the ABA, TIPS and the TIPS Animal Law Committee in urging adoption of “breed neutral” dangerous dog statutes that will, hopefully, help the citizens of Miami-Dade County when voting next week to determine whether to uphold the ordinance banning ownership of animals based on description alone,” said TIPS Chair-Elect Eugene G. Beckham of Miami, FL.

[Sheridan]

If you hadn't already worked it out it is also attached!

I meant this website. In future, please explain what it is you're posting whether it's a link or a PDF.

[mita]

Thank you for posting that pdf file. The introductory statement in the first post caught my interest.

Very interesting highlights in the section you posted, sandgrubber.

Edited August 27, 2012 by mita